Zone helps ailing 'Cats fend off Glenn bid

November 30, 2005|STEVE LOWE Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- When Riley boys basketball coach Mark Johnson feels an illness coming on, he does what comes naturally. No, not herbal teas and cold medicine. No chicken soup or bed rest, either. Johnson's answer is a 1-3-1 zone defense. At least, it was Tuesday night as the sickly Wildcats packed it in on Glenn in a 59-49 non-conference victory at Riley. Illness already had claimed the services of Riley star Tony Willis for the game, and two more players got sick at halftime. "We were extremely tired -- we're fighting some major sickness," Johnson said. "What I was pleased with the most tonight was our toughness." "The zone surprised us a little bit," said Glenn coach Gordon Mosson. Doug Jackson scored 16 points, C.J. Macon had 13 points and 10 rebounds and Michael Taylor added 14 points to give Riley its first win of the season (1-1). Mosson tried to slow the game down in the second half as his team gradually came back from a 12-point halftime deficit. With the Wildcats steadfast in their zone, Glenn held the ball for a 1:20 stretch of the third quarter. Though the Falcons eventually scored on that possession to cut Riley's lead to two, Johnson saw it as a chance to rest his tired team. "We were able to kick back," Johnson said. "Everyone knows we like to play fast, sometimes maybe even crazy fast, but that helped us." With Riley ahead by three and 3:40 left in the game, Mosson was whistled for a technical foul as he argued a foul call against his team. Jackson drained four straight free throws and the 'Cats lead never got below five points the rest of the game. "There's no justification for getting a technical," said Mosson, "but, I thought I needed to defend my players a little bit." Mosson's main point of concern was the free throw differential. Riley attempted 29 foul shots to just four for Glenn. "You look at the free throw disparity and you make your own judgments," Mosson said. Jared Thompson led Glenn (1-2) with 18 points and 10 rebounds.